The Indie Experience
August 3, 2009
A Publication of The Indie Beauty Network
ISSN 1530-9630 | Volume 10, Issue 15
To subscribe, click here
1. Notes and Highlights From dM, the Chief Executive
Indie
2. Where's dM?: Seminars and Events With dM
3. Today's Indie Business Radio Show: 7
Principles for Boosting PROFITS
4. Featured Indie Beauty Network Member: Christine
Laureano Coaching :: New York
5. Indie and Small Business Resources
6. About dM, the Chief Executive Indie
Make It Yourself!: Sunburn Twister -- Relate Magazine For Teens published this recipe and said it was a really great one for teen girls!
1. Notes and Highlights From dM, the Chief Executive Indie
<
-- Featured photo: my children earlier this summer at the Washington
Monument
Can you believe it's August?! It seems like just yesterday, I was hosting the first Indie Business Radio Show of the year! Now, 8 months later, So far, I've recorded 24 shows in 2009. (You can stream and download my 2009 shows here.) My, how time flies!
As time flies, it stakes a big effort to slow down and really take stock of how our lives are changing. My kids are growing like weeds, losing front teeth (as you can see), cooking me breakfast and becoming more independent. It seems like yesterday that I was nursing them at my desk as I wrote this newsletter (like this issue, for example, from April 1, 2002!) Whether or not you have children, you notice this too. Our parents are aging. Our babies are starting to crawl and then walk. Our spouses are getting those little distinguished gray hairs around their temples. The list goes on. Things change almost without our noticing, and then we look up one day and 8 months have flown by.
As we ponder what's happened since January 2009, every single one of us is 8 moths older. Hopefully, we are also 8 months wiser. And hopefully, out businesses are too.
But is it true? Is your business performing the way you want it to? Is it achieving milestones? Reaching goals? Are you making changes and adjustments? Or are you doing things the same way you were doing them 8 months ago and wondering why they're not working?
If you are looking over the past 8 months and saying, "What happened to the time? What do I have to show for it that's different? What's new? What's changed? What have I caused to change?, then you may wish to join me for The Indie Business Trifecta: 3 Habits that Lead to Success in Life and Business. You can get the details and register here. This event is for members of the Indie Beauty Network only!
2. Where's dM?: Seminars and Events With dM
<
-- Featured
photo: Lisa Rodgers being filmed on location at her
Cactus and Ivy
cosmetics studio in Saluda, South Carolina
This photo is a shot from the B-roll (supplemental footage) of our interview of Lisa for the Indie Business Documentary trailer. The footage was shot in March -- proof that producing, editing and finalizing even a movie trailer is a massive undertaking. Our goal is to polish off the trailer by the end of the month and begin planning to shoot more segments to eventually be considered for inclusion in the documentary. Thanks to Lisa, Lela Barker (Bella Lucce), Dedra Harvin (Ivory Magnolia) and Maureen Maples (Emotion Potions) (all Indie Beauty Network members of course!) for allowing us to film their stories! You can look at some of the other fun shots of the video in the making at the Indie Business Facebook Fan Page!
Today's Indie Business Radio: My guest will be Rosalie Lober on August 3 at 1:00pm EST. Click here for information.
The Indie Business Trifecta: 3 Habits that Lead to Success in Life and Business: August 6 at Noon EST (Please note that the session is free for members of the Indie Beauty Network, but registration is capped at 10 people and pre-registration is required on a first come-first served basis.) Click here for information. (Indie Beauty Network members only!)
dM on "Coach In The Moment With Christine Laureano": 8/19/09 at noon EST. Christine will help me share the story of how I merged my work and life missions to create a cohesive whole (Christine calls this a "soul purpose life" that fulfills me both personally and professionally. Click here for information.
For a quick snapshot of all things Indie, visit the Indie Business Twitter stream at this link.
3. Today's Indie Business Radio Show: 7 Principles for Boosting PROFITS
As
optimistic as we entrepreneurs are, the truth is that only those of us who
run our businesses for growth survive in the long run. Dr. Rosalie Lober,
author of Run Your Business Like a Fortune 100: 7 Principles for
Boosting PROFITS has researched what's necessary to be
successful and she's going to join us today to discuss her 7 core principles
for success.
Indie Business Radio airs live every Monday at 1:00pm EST. There are two ways to join the live show:
Listen Only: Click here at 1:00pm EST and follow the instructions to choose your audio player.
Listen and Video: Once you activate your audio player (above), you can join us live on Twitter via Savorchat! Just log in using your Twitter or FaceBook account to join the live chat while you listen to the show!
Visit the Indie Business Radio Show 2009 Archives to enjoy past shows. You can also subscribe to the show on iTunes by searching on Indie Business Radio.
-- Sponsor --
4. Featured Indie Beauty Network Member: Christine Laureano :: Christine Laureano Coaching :: New York
I met Christine Laureano many years ago when she was the owner of Good
Ground Botanicals. At the time, she was manufacturing all-natural skincare
and bath and body treatments. Fast forward to today. The beauty business was
fun, but it turns out that it was not Christine's true calling. Christine
has been married to her husband since 1993, and together they have 4
children: a 10-year old son, a 13-year old daughter, a 20-year old daughter
and precious little Alexa who would have been 14 this past December.
Christine traces her entrepreneurial journey back to a tragic event back in 1994. But Christine didn't wallow in it for long. Instead, she turned it into an opportunity to create an even better life for herself and the people she serves in her coaching business. Here's a little bit of Christine's story.
dM: When did you start your business and what is the inspiration for it?
Christine: I delivered my first daughter in 1994. Four months later, she was dead.
Back then, I owned and managed a deli. It was tough work, but I liked being my own boss. One morning, just like every other morning, I dropped my 4-month old daughter off at day care. I received a call a few hours later saying that I needed to come to the hospital right away. When I got there, I was told that my little baby was dead.
At first, they told us it was Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, but later investigation revealed a darker truth. The day care provider had removed my daughter from the car in her car seat, then placed the car seat down on a waterbed. The car seat tipped over when no one was looking and my daughter's breathing was blocked because she could not lift her nose and mouth away from the waterbed.
Of course, I was devastated. And along with the trauma that always accompanies the loss of a child, I also began to see deeper nature of people. It took me several years to come out of the sadness, but today, it propels me forward and empowers me to help others. I have noticed that trivial things hold people back, not because of the trivial stuff, but because there's something else going on behind the scenes. I discovered this for myself, and now I help others do the same. I empower people to make sure that the trivial stuff stays that way so they can focus on the important stuff of life.
I later became an account manager for a Fortune 500 electronics product distributor. I loved chatting with my clients and I discovered that, when I took the time to get to know them, they made more purchases. In my job, I discovered that my passion was not really selling. What I found I really had a passion for was connecting with people on a personal level and help them make their lives better. This sparked in me the thought of doing something to help people feel better. I started creating workshops and people started talking with me.
I officially launched Christine Laureano Coaching in 2006.
dM: What's your niche? What makes your products special?
Christine: Most of my clients are women over the age of 40. They are typically married or have been married and have gone through some kind of aha moment or a life changing challenge or issue that has made them think about the direction of their lives. My clients are looking for and finding a deeper part of "me" that wants to come out. I consider myself a "life clarity and soul esteem" mentor who helps people find clarity and passion in their lives so they can propel themselves forward personally and professionally.
dM: How do you work with people?
Christine: Ninety-five percent of my work is over the phone. I offer 3 packages. The most popular one is a package consisting of two coaching sessions a month for 3 months. During these sessions, I help them achieve the clarity they need to move forward. We work together to uncover the passions and talents that help them identify their purpose. To uncover the real deeper part of themselves that define them in ways that make them content in all aspects of their lives.
dM: What's new and exciting with your business these days?
Christine: I am expanding to work with businesses and corporations. I have created a program for businesses to help them find their corporate purpose. I help them recognize and acknowledge their employees. I have read that 79% of people who quit their jobs say they've never been recognized for their work so they quit. I have also read that 69% of currently employed people say that they have never been recognized for their contributions in their current jobs. My new service will work with company managers to help change all of that.
Happy and satisfied employees fuel the success of any company and my services will help that happen.
dM: Where did you receive your coaching training?
Christine: Coach U. I was inspired to train there in part because of author Cheryl Richardson (who also writes for O, the Oprah Magazine, is one of their graduates.
dM: Who helps your business be successful?
Christine: My clients help me because they tell their friends about how I have helped them and this results in new business for me. Behind the scenes, my family helps me. My husband and mom watch my younger children if I have to be away on business. I also have an incredible MasterMind group of 5 women with whom I meet by phone for an hour once a week.
dM: What business book can you recommend to us?
Christine: The Carrot Principle by Adrian Gostick. This book formed much of the basis for my new services geared to ward corporate clients. The author was a guest on dM's radio show a few weeks ago. You can listen and download that show here.
dM: What do you think are the best things about being Indie?
Christine: The freedom to grow through the passion and the purpose that I've discovered, and be able to give that to other people.
dM: What has been your biggest business challenge and how did you overcome it?
Christine: Balancing between being a mom and being a business owner is a constant challenge. I have to really set boundaries. For example, in January 2009, I set a new rule that when I'm in my office and the door is closed, I cannot be disturbed. When the door is open or I'm not in there, I'm fair game. Before I set this boundary, I was working in the family room. Not so good. My family has been supportive and the new boundary works well for all of us.
dM: How did you discover the Indie Beauty Network and what do you think of it?
Christine: I discovered IBN in 2000 and I joined in 2001 when I started Good Ground Botanicals. I also purchased dM's book, "Making Aromatherapy Creams & Lotions." When I closed my beauty business, my membership lapsed, but I joined again earlier this year because I love being able to connect with the women dM attracts. I love making connections and sharing information and seeing that people are benefiting from it.
dM: What are you doing when you're not working in your business?
Christine: Playing with my children, riding my bike, walking, enjoying who I am and everyone else around me. Through the tragedy of the loss of my daughter, I have learned to find joy.
How to connect with Christine:
E-Commerce
http://www.christinelaureanocoaching.com
Indie Beauty Social
http://www.indiebeauty.com/profile/christinelaureano
Twitter
http://twitter.com/celaureano
Facebook
http://facebook.com/christinelaureano
Blog
http://www.christinelaureano.com
Radio Show
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Coach-in-the-Moment
5. Indie and Small Business Resources
<--
Featured photo: Me and author and Indie Business Radio Show guest Andrew
Sherman
Connect with me and other Indies wherever it's convenient for you:
Road Rules For Small Business Owners
http://www.indiebusinessradio.com/2009_archives.html#sherman
(this is the link to a fantastic edition of Indie Business Radio when my
guest was author (or 22 books!) and attorney Andrew Sherman (pictured with
me at left at a networking lunch a few weeks ago). Not only did Andrew share some
of the "road rules"
from his latest book, but he also shared openly about
how he manages success as a business man and a father.
Stream the show now,
live from your desktop. It's one of my favorite shows ever!) You can
also join Andrew on Twitter at
@bethetruck.
Vroom Vroom!
Facebook (my personal page)
http://tinyurl.com/lj6rcw (that link has nothing to do with beauty or
business, but my brother posted a picture of me from elementary school on
Facebook and I am still cracking up over it, so I thought I'd share it with
you!)
My Google Reader Shared Items
(this link goes to the items I share through Google Reader,
including business, social media and IBN member blog updates!)
LinkedIn
http://www.linkedin.com/in/donnamaria - BONUS: if you're an IBN member,
you can listen to the fantastic LinkedIn audio training from last week
at this link!)
6. About dM, the Chief Executive Indie
<--
Featured photo: That's me and longtime IBN member Debbie Bilezikian.
I was at her Monave Mineral Makeup Crafting and Sales Seminar last month! I delivered a powerful talk entitled: "Marketing in the New World Order: Get On Board With Social Media." I shared all kinds of tips and tricks that mineral makeup companies can use to incorporate digital technologies to work for their businesses! Debbie and her group of mineral makeup companies were fantastic hosts -- thanks for having me!!
How can I help your group or conference gathering?!!
Donna Maria Coles Johnson, the Chief Executive Indie, helps small and independent business combine smart sales and marketing strategies with new media to create relationships and expand their sphere of influence. Through her blog and weekly radio show, dM delivers helpful and entertaining content that inspires, encourages and informs small business owners worldwide. Known for her innovative yet friendly style, dM's expertise has been showcased in Entrepreneur, Global Cosmetics Industry, Working Mother, the Wall Street Journal, the Chicago Tribune, National Public Radio, ABC World News This Morning, WUSA-TV9 (CBS Washington, DC affiliate), Ebony and a host of other regional and national media outlets.
Whether the topic is integrating career and family, leadership, small business ownership or new technologies, dM has a life-changing presentation for you and your audience. Contact dM today at donnamaria @ indiebeautynetwork.com to discover how she can contribute to your unforgettable conference or gathering event.
If this issue of The Indie Experience has been useful to you, please feel free to hit the Forward key and share it with a friend, or you can link directly via URL to this issue here.
See you next week! In the meantime,
Enjoy your life, build your business and have your way!
Donna Maria
Editor, The Indie Experience
The Indie Beauty Social Network | www.indiebeauty.com
Copyright (c) 2000 - 2009 by The Indie Beauty Network (IBN) and Donna Maria. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized distribution or reproduction is prohibited. IBN does not necessarily endorse any product, event or ideology featured in this newsletter or on IBN's website. All information is provided on an "as is" basis and no express or implied warranties are given. Any use of the information contained in this newsletter or on IBN's web site, including recipes, is solely at your own risk. IBN and Donna Maria disclaim any liability in connection with the use of all recipes, products reviewed and other information. Except for sponsorships, this newsletter refuses compensation from companies to feature or mention their names or products. Opinions expressed in any Product Review are personally those of the reviewer and do not represent the views of IBN, Donna Maria (unless she is the reviewer) or any other person or company.
